Alligator sightings on the rise

Added: 2026-05-23

[00:00:00]Well, it is alligator mating season in Texas and sightings are popping up far beyond the coast from neighborhoods in Fort Bend County and to communities all over the Galveston area.

[00:00:13]>> That's right. You'll see it on your Tik Tok or, you know, social media.

[00:00:16]>> seen it.

[00:00:17]>> Yes, it's scary and wildlife officials say alligators are becoming more active this time of year, so no wonder you're seeing them out there. Well, one family on Bolivar Peninsula says that activity turned really dangerous over the weekend. Fox 26's Leslie Dellsperger has that story.

[00:00:33]One couple says living along this canal in Bolivar Peninsula means they're used to seeing gators, but they said Saturday one got too close when it grabbed their 9-year-old dog Pup-Pup, who thankfully survived. But, the couple says that neighbors in this community sometimes feed the alligators and that has become a problem.

[00:00:50]>> His mouth was like this something. He was a couple inches from getting his head and that would have been a completely different story. We were all playing over there by the barbecue pit in the playground and my son says, "Where's Pup-Pup?" So, my wife and my son make this corner to start looking for the dog and the next thing you know, she sees the big alligator right there in the water.

[00:01:13]7 and 1/2 ft long. Got him and dragged him into the water and as we were looking for him, he ran out of the water soaking wet with five puncture wounds in his throat. We just don't want it to happen again. We know the alligators are here and we got to be aware of them and the main thing is that people need to stop feeding them because there's several people that feed them around here and that is what makes them think that it's okay to come up in your yard.

[00:01:40]Luckily, this alligator is not in this canal no more. It's all the way in High Island, but there's going to be more and they're probably going to get fed, which shouldn't happen. Pay attention to your surroundings and don't feed the wildlife.

[00:01:55]And if you have kids and if they play outside, come outside and check your yard before coming out here with your kids. Check the water nearby cuz, you know, they go under for about 5 to 10 minutes. Wait that long to see if one pops up cuz it just could be very well underneath the water. It's their habitat, but it's just a little too close to home. You're going to see them more.

[00:02:16]And they'll be around the shallow parts of the water.

[00:02:19]And they mostly out there to protect their youngs. So, when you do see them, you want to stay away as far as possible. The way it's definitely illegal to feed feed the wildlife.

[00:02:28]And what that does is make them less fearful of humans once they start receiving food from us. So, now they just walk up on us when you just out with your family. Galveston County officials say that it is alligator mating season. So, coming up at 6:00, hear more about what they have to say on how you can protect yourself in case you come in contact with a gator. Reporting from Bolivar Peninsula, Leslie Dallasport, Fox 26 News.